Photograph-phonograph record combination



May 2, 1950 M. MuNKAcsl ET AL PHOTOGRAPH-PHONOGRAPH RECORD COMBINATION Filed OGL. 30, 1946 Jrroe/VEY Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPH-PHONOGRAPH RECORD COMBINATION Muky Munkacsi, New Yorkand-Itudolph G. Liszt,

' Long Island City, N. Y.

Claims.

' The present invention is directed to a combination cf photograph and phonograph record for display and other purposes.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a phonograph record of plastic material having thereon spiral grooves containing a sound record. There has also been provided a printed sheet of paper with decorative effects which was pasted or otherwise cemented to the sound record. In some instances, the printed paper was attached to the back of the record and inY other cases, to the front of the record. In the latter case, the sound grooves mutilated the paper and injured the printed matter.

In another prior art device of this character, there was provided a printed or other picture which was circular in outline and of opaque material. There was also provided an annular member tting around the edges of'the picture and constituting a frame for the same. This annulus Was provided with grooves and a sound record was formed thereon.

Such devices had numerous disadvantages andA limitations. Usually they required special elements in order to provide the complete arrangement. Some of the devices were relatively complicated and expensive to produce.

'lfhe present invention. which is known as or is named Photcral, is intended to overcome the difliculties and disadvantages inherent in prior structures of the type described, it being among the obiects of the present invention to provide a combination of sound track record and picture element which are integral and which constitute a single unit.

It is also among the obiects of the present invention to provide a combination of a sound track record and a direct positive photograph which can be produced cuicklv and easily and wherein the image is always distinct and clear.

It is still further among the objects of the present invention to provide a method of making devices of the type described, which is simple and accurate and which may be .operated by relatively unskilled persons.

In practicing the present invention, there is provided a transparent plate of synthetic. plastic material such as that normally used in photographie film,` including cellulose acetate, cellulose` nitrate and other compositions. The plate is sul ciently` thick so that it isself-suppor-ting and does not fold by itsV own weight. Itis sufliciently thin so that it is flexible. Apositive "photographic emulsion is providedn on one side of the plate. Qn thecppcsite side. alsoundtraekf record maybe `out, after the exposure of the emulsion to pro, vide an image.

There may also be provided. if desired, a'frame or holder for the plate, one face of the holder being open and the inside of the opposite face being opaque and usually light-colored or white to form a background for the photograph. TheY photograph Photoral sound track record is in.-A serted into the frame, whereupon the image bef, comes readily visible.

When used to reproduce the sound, the plate is removed from the holder and a central opening therein allows the same to be placed over the spindleof a record player. To prevent mutilation of the image, a flap is providedwhich covA ers said opening. in the plate. Preferably the ap is` integralv with the plate and is part thereof, being cut through over siiiicient of the areaof: the opening so that it will eX out of position when, the plate is placed on the turn-table of the record player. When the plate is removed from the record player, the flap by the inherent resiliency of the plastic material, will fall back intotpositon and thus reconstruct the complete. image.

In the accompanying drawing` constituting a,4 partV hereof and in which like reference charac-.-K tersindicate like parts,

.Fig-` 1 is a front elevational view of a sound photographic record made in accordance with the presentinvention, some parts being broken away for clearness;

Fig.` 2A is an` enlarged vertical cross-sectional. View thereof taken along line 2-.2 of Fig. 1 and, centrally of said record, and

Fig. 3 is anenlarged fragmentary crossfsectional,v view of the film element showing more in, detail the structure thereof.

With reference tothe drawing, there is provided arplate I shown in rectangular form 2 but adaptedto be of any suitable size or shape. The plate is of transparent. synthetic plastic mate. rial and` is suiiciently thin to be flexible. Since, it is to beused asia sound record, its weight should betsufiicient so that when placed on thelturn-4 table cfthe record player, frictional engagement thereof with the telt covering of the turn-table` wirA be-suflcientso that the record will adherev to. the turn-table against the` action` of the playing.4 needle. In actu-al practice it has been found that a thickness. of plate. of .03 to .04 inch is highly suitable. The invention is not, Limited tol said thickness butconsiderable variation therein is. possible, as torA instance, the plate may be be,-A rwan, .Olii-iiV 1o man1-hick- On one side of plate I is deposited a thin lm 3 of positive photographic emulsion. Such emulsions are light-sensitive and are adapted to provide a positive image directly on plate I. The sensitized plate or iilm I held in suitable light protective covering is exposed as is usual in photography tol provide a positive image on emulsion 3. The lm is then developed and fixed as usual, whereby the image becomes visible, and may be used as a transparency photograph with no backing.

At the center 4 or adjacent thereto, there is provided an opening of such size so that plate lV may fit over the spindle of a record player. This may be provided by merely punching out a piece from the center of the plate. Preferably in order to avoid mutilation of the image, instead of cutting out a center portion, a cut 5 is made in the plate, said cut being circular but being incomplete so as to leave a connecting neck 6 attaching the cut-out portion to the plate. Such a cut 5 is practically invisible and hardly interferes with the image, which appears practically perfect.- When the plate I is placed on the turntable of the record player, the nap so formed is pushed upwardly by the spindle allowing the plate -to t perfectly on the turn-table. When the plate is removed therefrom, the iiap returns to its original position due to the inherent resiliency of the plastic material so that the image on the plate appears Without blemish.

`On the side of plate I opposite to lm 3, there is cut a spiral groove 'I containing a sound record. This may be accomplished by any of the usual methodsrand preferably the groove and sound record are cut simultaneously. Thereby one may iirst expose plate I to provide a picture of an individual or of a group of persons, develop the sarne and in a short time record on the opposite side of the plate a sound record made by said individual or group.

-In order Yto exhibit the image or photograph, there is provided a frame which may be used if a non-transparent photograph is desired and which has a back 8 with an opening or slit 9 in the upper end thereof. The inner face of back 8 is provided with an opaque sheet of material of light color such as white paper to act as a background for the photograph. The frame has a front portion I I all around its edges for the purpose of providing an opening I2 through which the photograph may be viewed. Because of the white background I0 and the transparent quality of plate I, a perfect image is obtained by viewing through opening I2.

The invention is capable of many uses, as will be realized. For instance, it may be used for advertising purposes and may contain a photograph of an article of manufacture, with a sound track record made part thereof, whereby the potential customer may see a photograph of the article being sold and then listen to the story behind the article or an explanation thereof contained on the sound record. Also, photographs of individuals may be placed thereon and a message of some kind sent with the photograph, as for example, a message of greeting to relatives orv friends. There may be provided a photograph Vof a performer together with a record of the voice ofsaid performer so that the purchaser of a .f

record may have a permanent direct photograph of the individual. The invention may be utilized as a prelude in making an inexpensive motion picture screen test by the individual recording his picture and voice. These and other uses of may be made within the principles herein set n the invention are possible within the spirit hereof.

There are numerous advantages residing in the present invention. For example, the plate I and frame 8 as a unit are capable of being shipped by mail without danger of breaking because of the relative stiffness and yet flexibility of plate I. Therefore, records of this type may be mailed for long distances and arrive in excellent condition. The cost of making such a record is relatively low as a photograph may be first taken on the plate and shortly thereafter, at the same sitting, the record may be produced on the same plate. Other uses for the invention will be apparent, as for instance, a testator may dictate his will and I have a photograph record of the occasion simultaneously. v

These and other variations in the invention forth as claimed in the claims appended hereto.

,lf/'e claim: i

l. In an article of manufacture having aplate of a synthetic plastic material and a spiral sound track record cut in one face of said plate, the improvement which comprises a positive photographic emulsion on one face of said plate to provide a direct positive image having opaque and transparent portions, an opening in said plate to allow insertion of said plate over the spindle of a record player and a iiexible flap integral with said plate and wholly covering said opening when said plate is not on said spindle, part of said im` age covering said flap.

2. In an article of manufacture having a plate of a synthetic plastic material and a spiral sound track record cut in one face of said plate, the improvement which comprises a positive photographic emulsion on one face of said plate to provide a direct positive image having opaque andV age covering said flap, said iiap having a narrow' neck connecting the same to said plate.

3. In an article of manufacture having a plate oi a synthetic plastic material and a spiral sound track record cut in one face of said plate, thel improvement which comprises a positive photographic emulsion on one face of said plate to pro' vide a direct positive image having opaque andi transparent portions, an opening in said plate to' allow insertion of 'said plate over the spindle of a record player and a flexible ilap integral with said plate and wholly covering said opening when said plate is not on said spindle, part of said image covering said flap, said flap having a narrow neck connecting the same to said plate, said plate being relatively thick and of sufficient weight'so that friction between the same and the turntable" of said recordY player will hold said plate in position against the force of theneedle during ro,-A

tation of said turntable.

4. In an article of manufacture having a plateV of a synthetic plastic material and a spiral sound track record cut in one face of said plate, the improvement which comprises said plate having ai picture on one face thereof, an opening in saidf plate to allow insertion of said plate over the spindle of a record player and a flexible flap integral with said plate and wholly covering said opening when said plate is not on said spindle;

part of said picture covering said nap.

5. In an article of manufacture having a plate of a synthetic plastic material and a spiral soundA 2,505,787 5 track record cut in one face of said plate, the im- REFERENCES CITED movement which comprises Said plate having a The following references are of record in the picture on one face thereof, an opening in said fue of this patent. plate to allow insertion of said plate over the spindle of a record player and a exible flap in- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS tegral with said plate and wholly covering said Number Name Date opening when said plate is not on said spindle, 1,797,750 Berger Mar, 24, 1931 part of said picture covering said ap, and having 1,931,287 Fisher Oct. 17, 1933 a narrow neck connecting the same to said plate.

MUKY MUNKACsI. 10 FOREIGN PATENTS RUDOLPH G. LISZT. Number Country Date 414,171 Great Britain Aug, 2, 1934 789,439 France Oct. 29, 1935 

